Review Detail

YEAR OF THE REAPER is a fantastic YA read about finding yourself, dealing with adversity, family, and forgiveness. Cas is on his way home for the first time in 3 years, having been imprisoned and tortured by a neighboring kingdom when he was 15 years old. After the plague swept through the prison and more broadly, both kingdoms, he was able to make his way back home, not sure if he would find his brother Ventillas still among the living.

A horse thief, who also needs his rescue, accompanies him on the last miles of travel to his family's castle. Upon arrival, he is surprised to find the king, his wife, and the whole of court having taken refuge there. This day is the king and queen's son's naming ceremony - one that results in a near-death experience. As Cas regains his presence in his kingdom and with his family, he is also thrown into a larger and more complex puzzle of the assassin who seems bent on destroying the royal family.

What I loved: This was a really riveting read that builds slowly with a lot of character development for Cas, as he struggles with the past he now holds, how others will view him through this new lens, and where he will find himself when the dust settles. Although his life has been forever altered, and he is not who he was before, he is not yet sure exactly who he will be and what he wants from this life he has. He is a really compelling character, who faces a lot of challenges and sees them through with kindness, empathy, and force when needed. He is driven by his passion for his brother, his kingdom, and those who suffer around him.

The kingdom has been ravaged by the plague, and this has led to a lot of suffering, death, and confusion, with different people reacting in different ways. In some ways, these themes around disease, suffering, and human reactions to it, are repeated throughout history. Another particularly intriguing element, which we learn about fairly early in the book, is that Cas is able to see some ghosts. He does not know why and he cannot see all of them, but these interactions added an extra fantasy-element that was particularly intriguing. Although I would have loved this unique ability to play a larger role in it all, the role that it does play is beautiful and adds to the kindness we see shining through Cas.

The story takes a lot of twists and turns, and although the biggest twist was pretty easy to guess, it's a well-plotted story that keeps the reader hooked with wondering where the dust will all settle. The romance in this was pretty light, as it's a relationship that mostly felt like a deep friendship/respect, but it was a nice touch nonetheless (though I would have definitely enjoyed more). The focus was more on character development and healing.

Final verdict: A unique and riveting YA fantasy, YEAR OF THE REAPER features a compelling cast, thought-provoking themes, and a thrilling plot. Highly recommend for fans of FABLE, DREAMS LIE BENEATH, and BRIARHEART.